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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Weekly Update: September 27, 2015

Good morning, friends, and happy Sunday. Can September really be just about over? October has long been my favorite month - the gorgeous fall colors, changing leaves, and crisp days. Bring it on! But how about we just freeze time there for a while? I'd rather not even think about what comes next...

The past week has been relatively quiet and uneventful, and that's a good thing. We had friends over for dinner, decorated for fall, sealed the driveway, and I got my new glasses. Suddenly I am a reading machine ;-)

The fourth (and final) of Ferrante's emotionally intense Neopolitan Novels did not disappoint. I was torn between the urge to race to the end and the desire to savor each of the nearly 500 pages. The last time I finished a series - in such quick order, no less - was The Lord of the Rings back in high school. Maybe it's time to reconsider my stance on series...

I started this book yesterday afternoon (while half-watching the SU football game) and absolutely LOVE it! It reads quickly, so I might even finish today. We'll see how I feel by the end, but for now, if this one is on your wish list, move it to the top right away. Reading and listening//

Now that I've finished with Ferrante, I'm ready to return to Trollope and our #6Barsets project. This is book 5, so we're coming into the home stretch. I listened to the first chapter yesterday... what a pleasure to return to Mr. Trollope.

Our monthly book club meeting. I'm hosting the discussion of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande on Friday and anticipate a near record turnout. We generally meet in the morning, but will gather at 4:00 this time so even more people can attend.

Dinner at my sister's today - I'm making apple crisp.

Football, apple picking, planting some mums...

That's about all from me this week. What's new with you? Did you read anything good last week?

This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Sounds like you have a good week lined up! And the apple crisp sounds delicious! It's been too long since I've had one. The Ferrante books do sound wonderful and I've heard fantastic things about Did You Ever Have a Family. Have a great week!

Totally agree with Did You Ever Have A Family...will likely make my Best of 2015 List! And will be very interested to hear your thoughts on Fates and Furies once you finish it. There are so many September releases..it is a bit overwhelming! But, my October and the rest of the year are pretty light, so I'm looking forward to lots of free range reading!

Sarah - I wouldn't be at all surprised if Did You Ever Have a Family makes my favorites list this year, too... and I'm still only half way through. Hope to start Fates and Furies toward the end of the week. Then I have at least three more September releases I'm dying to read...

Laurel-Rain Snow - I really think you would get into this Neopolitan series. I've never experienced novels about female friendship that features such detail.... talk about having a microscope on every thought and feeling!

Fates and Furies sounds really good, but library wait list is very long. Odds are I'll find a copy elsewhere before my turn would come around. Have decided not to finish Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford. Not my cup of tea. Now reading the lively, amusing Love, Nina by Nina Stibbe. Guaranteed for many chuckles. In line are House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure, touted as a splendid page-turner, and from the author of The Sisters Brothers is a new one called Under Major Domo Minor. Will be hard to top the Sisters. No "Lost Child" yet .... waiting for what seems just the right moment to pick it up. So many good books ..... never enough time it seems. No Fall here yet, but it's in the air and the light. We've had a much-needed rainy weekend.

JudyMac - I'm pretty sure I got on our waiting list for Fates and Furies before they even had the book! Sorry to hear about Everybody Rise. The blurb makes it sound so appealing, but you are the second trusted reader I know who has been unable to finish. Still haven't gotten to The Sisters Brothers and now he has a new novel... just get that feeling I'll never catch up, lol! There are just so many good books right now! Have a feeling this might have been our last really nice, warm weekend...it's all downhill now ;-)

Greg - Yes, October is definitely the best... and it sounds like it will be even better for you with some much-anticipated new releases. Have a feeling I'll be working on my September books for much of next month, too! Have a good week :)

I'm more than happy for the bit of cooler weather we'll be getting, I'm not a fan of humidity. Hopefully we'll have a cooler winter. I'm so not ready for the holidays. They'll be sad this year for sure.

I'm actually torn about the Bill Clegg book. I want to read it but I'm a little sensitive to the subject matter right now. So maybe later. I love Fall too - everything about it is so awesome - apples, the weather, autumn colors!

Football and apple crisp. Nothing sounds better! I too am making my way through the Bill Clegg novel. I'm listening to it on audio this week but unfortunately the narrator reads it in a monotone voice which is not great. I feel I am missing it

Amen on all of the new releases this month! I have been reading like crazy trying to keep up with what I want to read. I'm with you about October - we even have several birthdays in my family in October and our anniversary so it really is a special month for us but I have to work hard not to think about what comes next.

It sounds as though you have this week under control! Enjoy! I love October! I have wooden pumpkins everywhere and Cinderella pumpkins on the front porch. This year I am only buying white pumpkins! I love them!

WOW, are you on some kind of favorite-patron list at the library? these are such hot books and I am so happy that you got them. I suppose I should think to request such but I always assume the waiting list is long. Silly me.